Munro · Fife & Perthshire
Beinn Sheasgarnaich (Beinn Heasgarnich)
Beinn Heasgarnich (1077m) is one of the great upper Glen Lochay whalebacks — a vast, flat-topped Munro with a steep, broken north face dropping into the Allt Bad a' Mhaim. It sits centrally on the Breadalbane plateau and is almost always paired with Creag Mhòr to the west, with the two summits linked by a notorious peat-hagged bealach. The summit itself is a huge mossy plateau where finding the exact high point in mist requires good navigation.
Quick facts
- Height
- 1077.4m/ 3535ft
- Distance
- 18 km
- Ascent
- 948 m
- Time
- 6–9 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN413383
- Parking
- NN453408
- Nearest city
- Fort William
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
Glen track 35% · Open hillside 35% · Summit plateau 30%
The standard approach is from the hairpin bend on the Glen Lochay–Glen Lyon hill road at Batavaime. Take the landrover track up Allt Batavaime, then climb the south-east shoulder onto the broad south ridge and the summit plateau. To traverse with Creag Mhòr, descend the steep west flank to the Bealach na Bidh — wet, peaty and slow — then climb the east ridge of Creag Mhòr. Return via the long south ridge of Creag Mhòr to the road. Roughly 17km in distance with 1100m of accumulated climb for the two-Munro round.
Terrain
The Batavaime landrover track is firm but gates need closing — working hill farm. The Allt Batavaime climb is rough heathery hillside with no clear path. The summit plateau is huge, mossy and almost featureless — a serious navigation challenge in cloud. The Bealach na Bidh between Heasgarnich and Creag Mhòr is among the worst peat-hag wading in the Breadalbane country, particularly after rain.
In winter
A serious winter plateau Munro. The plateau drifts deeply and finding the summit cairn in poor visibility demands precise navigation. The north face holds avalanche-prone snow after south-westerly loading; the Bealach na Bidh fills with deep wet snow that can be unwadable. Cornicing on the north rim is consistent. SAIS Southern Cairngorms is the closest regional indicator.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 47m
- Edinburgh2h 15m
OS maps: OS Landranger 51
Mobile signal: No signal above 700m in upper Glen Lochay. Killin has 4G. Download maps before the drive up the glen.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:31
- Sunset
- 22:03
- Civil dawn
- 03:29
- Civil dusk
- 23:05
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 2026
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Beinn Sheasgarnaich (Beinn Heasgarnich) — common questions
- How hard is Beinn Sheasgarnaich (Beinn Heasgarnich)?
- Beinn Sheasgarnaich (Beinn Heasgarnich) is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 18km with 948m of ascent and takes most walkers 6-9 hours. Terrain: The Batavaime landrover track is firm but gates need closing — working hill farm.
- Where do I park for Beinn Sheasgarnaich (Beinn Heasgarnich)?
- Standard parking is at NN453408 near Fort William. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Beinn Sheasgarnaich (Beinn Heasgarnich)?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn Sheasgarnaich (Beinn Heasgarnich) are May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Beinn Sheasgarnaich (Beinn Heasgarnich)?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile signal on Beinn Sheasgarnaich (Beinn Heasgarnich)?
- No signal above 700m in upper Glen Lochay. Killin has 4G. Download maps before the drive up the glen.
- Is Beinn Sheasgarnaich (Beinn Heasgarnich) safe in winter?
- A serious winter plateau Munro. The plateau drifts deeply and finding the summit cairn in poor visibility demands precise navigation. The north face holds avalanche-prone snow after south-westerly loading; the Bealach na Bidh fills with deep wet snow that can be unwadable. Cornicing on the north rim is consistent. SAIS Southern Cairngorms is the closest regional indicator.
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